California Turkey Hunting Seasons

On this page, you’ll find info about California turkey hunting seasons. We cover hunting seasons, hours, license, locations, species, and stamps. We address methods of hunting with air rifles, computers, dogs, lights, muzzleloaders, pistols, rifles, shotguns, and more. We include topics for bird identification, hunting clubs, disabled hunters, guides and outfitters, and youth. You’ll also find a turkey and forum for turkey hunting. If you have questions, ask out lawyer to “Fetch it up!”

Juniors

Warning shot!!! You have to have your license and stamps with you while hunting. See FGC § 3031, 14 CCR § 700(b), and Upland Game Bird Stamp below.

Upland Game Bird Stamp Validation

Upland Game Bird Validation

In general, you need an Upland Game Bird Hunting Validation to hunt upland game birds, including wild turkey during the California turkey hunting seasons. The only exception is for Juniors hunting with a valid Junior Hunting License.

Warning shot!!! You have to carry your license and validation with you while hunting. See 14 CCR § 313.

Seasons and Limits for California Turkey Hunting

California turkey hunting seasons are set according to the (1) time of the year, (2) hunter’s age, (3) method of hunting, and (4) location. There are fall and spring seasons, junior hunting seasons, archery and falconry seasons, and special seasons at certain areas.

Fall Season

The California fall turkey season was from November 14 through December 13, 2015.

Spring Season

The California spring turkey season is from March 26 through May 1, 2016.

Junior Season

There are a youth-only hunting seasons on March 19 and 20, 2016, and from May 2 through May 15, 2016.

Archery Seasons

There is an archery-only turkey season May 2 through May 15, 2016.

Falconry

The 2015 fall season for falconry is from the second Saturday in November, extending for 30 consecutive days. The 2016 spring season is from the last Saturday in March, extending for 37 consecutive days.

Wildlife Areas

Turkey hunting is allowed on some California Wildlife Areas. In general, it’s allowed on Type C areas, but NOT allowed on Type A or Type B areas. See “Hunting Locations for California Hunting Seasons” below.

CDFW Timetables (2015-2016)

Bag & Possession Limits

Fall Season

The daily bag limit for the California fall turkey season is one (1) wild turkey of either sex. The possession limit is two (2) turkeys per season.

Spring Season

The daily bag limit for the California spring turkey season is one (1) bearded/male wild turkey. The possession limit is three (3) turkeys during the general, archery and junior seasons combined.

Falconry Season

In the fall, you can take one turkey per day (either sex) and no more than two per season. In the spring, you can take not more than one bearded turkey per day and no more than two per season. The possession limit is three person.

Archery

Bait and Baited Areas

In general, it’s illegal to take any resident game bird, including turkey, or any resident game mammal, within 400 yards of a Baited Area. See 14 CCR § 257.5 for any applicable exceptions.

Boats, Kayaks, and Canoes

There used to be a prohibition against shooting resident small game from boats, but the regulation was repealed. While you can shoot turkey from a boat, it’s illegal to use a motorboat, powerboat, airboat or sailboat to pursue, drive, or herd any bird or mammal in California. When hunting, the motor has been shut off, all momentum has ended, and the boat is either drifting, beached, moored, resting at anchor, or is being propelled by a paddle, or pole.

Bow and Arrows

In general, Bow and Arrows are allowed for hunting wild turkey in California. Any type of arrow can be used except arrows with (1) lighted nocks with a beam of light, (2) an explosive head, (3) tranquilizers, or (4) poison. See 14 CCR § 311(e) and (k) and 14 CCR § 354(c)-(i) and “Crossbows” below.*

Proposed Regulation: for the 2016-2017 season, there is a proposal to add the following restriction to subsection to 14 CCR § 311(e):

(1) It shall be unlawful to take wild turkey by use of hunting arrows and crossbow bolts unless fitted with a broad head type blade which will not pass through a hole seven- eighths inch in diameter. Mechanical/retractable broad heads shall be measured in the open position.

Warning shots!!!

Don’t shoot arrows from or across any highway, road, or place open to the pubic for vehicles.

Your bow has to be capable of killing the bird from at least 130 yards.

In general, you’re not allowed to have a firearm while hunting turkey during any archery season.

Don’t put a bow in your vehicle if it’s nocked or the end of an arrow is fit to the notch.

Computer-Assisted Remote Hunting

Crossbows

In general, you can hunt resident small game, including turkey, with a Crossbow (which is a type of “firearm”). Any type of crossbow bolt can be used except crossbow bolts with (1) lighted nocks with a beam of light, (2) an explosive head, (3) tranquilizers, or (4) poison.*

Proposed Regulation: for the 2016-2017 season, there is a proposal to add the following restriction to subsection to 14 CCR § 311(e):

(1) It shall be unlawful to take wild turkey by use of hunting arrows and crossbow bolts unless fitted with a broad head type blade which will not pass through a hole seven- eighths inch in diameter. Mechanical/retractable broad heads shall be measured in the open position.

Warning shots!!!

Don’t shoot from or across any highway, road, or place open to the pubic for vehicles.

Your crossbow has to be capable of casting a legal arrow at least 130 yards.

In general, you’re not allowed to have a firearm during archery season or with an archery-only tag (the only exception is with a Disabled Archer’s Permit).

Don’t put a crossbow in your vehicle if it’s nocked or the end of an arrow is fit to the notch.

Decoys

Live decoys are NOT allowed for hunting will turkey or any other resident game bird. See 14 CCR § 311(l).

Dogs

In general, you can use dogs to Take and retrieve wild turkey during the California turkey hunting seasons. See 14 CCR § 311(o). Click here for California dog hunting laws, including place to hunt.

Falconry

In general, you can use a falcon to hunt turkey. The same is true for all resident small game. See 14 CCR § 311(d).

Harassment

In general, Animal Harassment is illegal and includes any disruption of the animal’s normal behavior patters (e.g. breeding, feeding, sheltering). There is an exception for landowners and tenants trying to prevent property damage. See 14 CCR § 251.1.

Lights

In general, it’s illegal to use artificial lights to hunt game birds, mammals, and fish.

While in possession of a firearm or weapon, it’s also illegal to use spotlights, headlights, or other lights (1) on a highway, (2) in a field, woodland, or forest where they are commonly found, or (3) on the animal or fish itself–even if you don’t shoot at it.

It’s also illegal to use or possess night vision equipment to help you take any mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, or fish (e.g. infrared and binoculars).

Motor Vehicles

In general, it’s illegal to pursue, drive, or herd any bird or mammal with a motorized vehicle (e.g. airplane, motor vehicle, powerboat, sailboat, snowmobile). This includes driving them toward another person for the purpose of taking them. Likewise, it’s illegal to shoot any game bird or mammals from a powerboat, sailboat, motor vehicle, or airplane. The only possible exceptions are with a permit from the CDFW and landowners / tenants to prevent private property damages. See FGC § 3002, FGC § 3003.5, and FGC § 3501; and 14 CCR § 251. Also see “Boats, Kayaks & Canoes” above.

Muzzleloaders

In general, you can use to muzzle-loading shotguns to hunt wild turkey during the general California turkey hunting season. The same is true for all resident small game. See 14 CCR § 311(c).

Rifles and Pistols

Rifles and pistols are NOT allowed for hunting wild turkey. (For resident small game, they’re only allowed for hunting squirrels and rabbits everywhere except in Los Angeles County.) See 14 CCR § 311(g).

Shotguns

In general, you can use a shotgun to hunt wild turkey, during the California turkey hunting season. However, there are restrictions for the shell capacity and type of gauge, plug, and shells. The same is true for all resident small game. See 14 CCR § 311(a) and (b).

Gauge Size

In general, no shotgun larger than a 10-gauge may be used to hunt turkey in California. However, no shotgun larger than a 12-guage may be used on, over, or adjacent to the waters of Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County. Warning shot!!! There are similar restrictions at California Wildlife Areas. See 14 CCR § 311(a).

Plugs

If a plug is used to reduce the shell capacity, the plug has to one piece that can’t be removed without taking the gun apart.

Shell Capacity

California turkey hunting shotguns must be incapable of holding more than three (3) shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

Beginning July 1, 2016, you’ll only be able to use non-toxic shot for hunting any upland game bird (except for dove, quail, snipe, and any game bird taken at a licensed game bird club), resident small game mammal, furbearing mammal, nongame bird or mammals, or any wildlife with a depredation permit).

As of July 1, 2019, it will be illegal to use lead for taking all wildlife in California. See 14 CCR § 205.1.

Shell Size

While turkey hunting in California, shot size larger than No. 2 may not be used or possessed. All shot shall be loose in the shell. The California turkey shell size restriction is located at 14 CCR §§ 311(b).

Possession & Transport

After you kill any bird in California, including turkey, it has to be identifiable by the CDFW until it reaches your Personal Abode or Commercial Preservation Facility, or is being prepared to eat it right away. To be “identifiable,” the general rule is that you either have to keep a fully feathered wing or head attached. One exception is that for doves, you have to keep a fully feathered wing attached. See 14 CCR § 251.7(b).

Hunting Areas

CDFW Regions

There are many great opportunities for California wild turkey hunting on public land, as well as private land through the CDFW SHARE Program, guides, hunting clubs, and game bird clubs. For your convenience, we’ve organized public hunting areas by the six regions of the CDFW (see below). Follow the links to our summaries of area-specific turkey hunting rules, regulations and procedures.

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